ABINGDON ARCHAEOLOGICAL GEOPHYSICS

RADCOT, NEAR FARINGDON, OXFORDSHIRE

Initially we surveyed 4 magnetometry grids, each of 30 x 30metres, to see if magnetometry worked in this area and appear to have found a multi-period site, probably medieval.

We also did part of a grid, (shown coloured here), with resistivity, and this gives a similar but slightly different picture. Ideally one would use both methods on the whole site before deciding what, if anything, to do next.

Later we did the whole field  on a different grid alignment and got a fairly complex site which will need a lot of work to sort out. At least the geophysics should enable small trenches to ascertain its state of preservation to be targeted.

North at top. 30 x 30metre grids

A resistivity pseudo-section across the main building indicated that the central pillar had the same depth as the main walls and was therefore likely to have been built at the same time.

Magnetometry plan and resistivity pseudo-section.

Later we surveyed the area to the north and got what appears to be a planned town which had buildings down its main street and little else so it may not have developed as well as expected. There are possible Iron Age  remains on the northern side of the enclosure. The eastern part has interference caused by iron-rich dredgings of the ditch being deposited over the surface of the field.

The north eastern corner of the enclosure can be seen as a cropmark on the eastern side of the road.

Magnetometry survey of castle and settlement at Radcot on Google map base.

This site was used for a Time Team television programme which was first broadcast in February 2009.